National assistance burials & Deaths reported to the Treasury Solicitor

Last updated 17 April 2018

Portsmouth City Council has a responsibility to provide a funeral and protect the estate of any person who dies within the City of Portsmouth where the deceased has no relatives and it appears that no suitable arrangements for the disposal have been or are being made.

From the 1st April 2015 Portsmouth City Council will also take responsibility for persons who have died following admission to Queen Alexandra hospital and have no relatives able to make suitable arrangements.

It is possible to obtain financial support towards funeral costs if you are in receipt of benefits but this is not the remit of Portsmouth City Council. Any such application should be made to the Department for Work and Pensions. www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/funeral-payments

Before we can arrange the funeral, the death must be registered. The home of the deceased is searched for a Will in order to find details of any interested parties and to locate funds to pay for the funeral. If details of friends and relatives are found, they will be contacted and informed of the funeral arrangements.

Estates of a net value exceeding £500 will be referred to the Government Legal Department (formally known as The Treasury Solicitor) for administration.

www.bonavacantia.gov.uk

A list of estates that have recently been referred to the Government Legal Department or are being administered by the Council are listed below. This list was last updated on the 17th July 2018 and will be up-dated once every 3 months.

Any other details relating to a deceased person, such as their last known address or the value of the Estate, are not disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information Act request on the basis that the information is exempt under Section 31(a) (Law Enforcement - the prevention of crime) and will not be released.

Financial support for funeral expenses Open / Close

It is possible to obtain financial support towards funeral costs if you are in receipt of benefits but this is not the remit of Portsmouth City Council. Any such application should be made to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Before we can arrange the funeral, the death must be registered. The home of the deceased is searched for a will in order to find details of any interested parties and to locate funds to pay for the funeral. If details of friends and relatives are found, they will be contacted and informed of the funeral arrangements.

Estates being administered by the council Open / Close

Estates of a net value exceeding £500 will be referred to the Government Legal Department (formally known as The Treasury Solicitor) for administration.

A list of estates that have recently been referred to the Government Legal Department or are being administered by the council are listed below. This list was last updated on 17 April 2018 and will be updated once every three months.

Any other details relating to a deceased person, such as their last known address or the value of the estate, are not disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information Act request on the basis that the information is exempt under Section 31(a) (Law Enforcement - the prevention of crime) and will not be released.